Keran Tops Nation, Marwah Ranks Second in NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Blocks Programme Delta Rankings
||Black and White Digital News ||
||Parvinder Singh July 24,2026||
Srinagar : Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as the best-performing Union Territory in the latest Delta Rankings of NITI Aayog’s Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP), with Keran block in Kupwara district securing the first position nationwide and Marwah block in Kishtwar district claiming the second rank in the overall performance assessment for the January–March 2026 quarter.
According to officials, Keran block, under the leadership of Deputy Commissioner Kupwara, Shrikant Balasaheb Suse( IAS) achieved the highest rank in the country, while Marwah block, led by Pankaj Sharma, DC Kishtwar secured the second position, reflecting the significant progress made by the two aspirational blocks across key development indicators.
The rankings were released by NITI Aayog under its outcome-based monitoring framework, which evaluates the performance of aspirational blocks across India on measurable improvements in governance and socio-economic development.
Launched in 2023, the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP) aims to accelerate development in the country’s most underdeveloped blocks through focused interventions in critical sectors, including health and nutrition, education, agriculture and allied activities, water resources, financial inclusion, basic infrastructure, and skill development. The programme emphasizes data-driven governance, regular monitoring, and convergence of central and state schemes to improve the quality of life in underserved regions.
Officials said the outstanding performance of Keran and Marwah reflects the effectiveness of targeted developmental initiatives, improved service delivery, and coordinated efforts by the district administrations and stakeholders in implementing government programmes at the grassroots level.
With two blocks occupying the top two positions in the national rankings, Jammu and Kashmir has emerged as the leading Union Territory in the latest assessment cycle, highlighting the region’s sustained progress in inclusive development and effective implementation of the Aspirational Blocks Programme.
